International Travel Information for Students

Required Documentation

• Students must complete the travel self-assessment and register travel when making plans to travel internationally.
• Prior to departure, students must complete the risk waiver form provided by the university, acknowledging their understanding of the risks of such travel, affirming that they have reviewed and understand relevant safety-related materials, and assuming the risks related to their international travel.
   

Funding Restrictions

Regardless of a student’s country of citizenship or residence, the MacMillan Center will not fund​, or otherwise sponsor or support, any international academic or extracurricular project in any country for which at least one of the following conditions has been met:
 

1. The U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Advisory Level 4 “Do Not Travel” for the country.

   Students who intend to travel to a country for which the U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Advisory Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” should meet with an advisor for their program to discuss the heightened security risks. 

   Students are responsible for carefully following all State Department Travel Advisories regardless of whether or not these advisories restrict student travel to the country. For example, an advisory might issue a “Do Not Travel” advisory to specific parts of the country or highlight the dangers of undertaking particular activities in the country. Students are expected to monitor such advisories and to take appropriate precautions, avoiding any specified areas or activities.
    

2. International SOS has issued a Travel Global Risk Rating of “Extreme” or “High” for the country. 

   Students are responsible for carefully following all International SOS Risk Ratings regardless of whether or not these ratings restrict student travel to the country. For example, a rating may be “Extreme” or “High” in specific parts of the country. Students are expected to monitor such advisories and to take appropriate precautions, avoiding any specified areas or activities.
    

3. Yale has determined that travel to this country poses a credible health or security risk to students.

   Travel restrictions will apply through the date of departure. If such a restriction comes into effect after the student’s departure, the university reserves the right to end its sponsorship at that time, and to require the student to end the trip and leave the country. Such determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis. No exceptions to this policy will be made, and Yale reserves the right to decline to fund travel to particular regions if it so decides.
    

Health Considerations

Student health and safety is the MacMillan Center’s top priority. We partner with students to make well-informed decisions about conducting research abroad.

We recommend that you confirm with a medical professional that there are no health-related reasons that preclude you from traveling. As a Yale community member, you will be automatically enrolled in the ISOS Travel Assistance Program. Please review the ISOS eligibility criteria, coverage details, and claim reimbursement procedures.

• You may need to be immunized before traveling to some countries.  To have your immunization requirements evaluated, please make an appointment to visit Yale Student Health as soon as possible. Please note that travel consultations and vaccines are not currently a covered Yale Health benefit.

If you have personal health insurance coverage through Yale or another provider, please check with those providers for details of your personal coverage while abroad. MacMillan and Yale are not responsible for additional medical needs or costs not covered by ISOS and your own health insurance coverage.

Insurance Coverage

You are responsible for securing any supplemental insurance coverage you desire  for your time abroad. It should be noted that Yale University Health Services provides only limited coverage outside of Connecticut.

Travelers on Yale-related business (including students traveling on study abroad programs, doing research, attending conferences, or student organization travel) now have coverage through International SOS Global Travel Assistance Program for up to $250,000 in out-of-country medical expenses for treatment of accidents or sicknesses that occur while traveling.

• This coverage includes fourteen days of personal travel deviation. If a traveler extends their trip, either before or after the Yale business component of the trip, this coverage will still apply up to a maximum of fourteen days.
• For more information and to print a ISOS ID card, visit here.
   

Taxes

Most fellowship funds are considered taxable income. Certain fellowships are “qualified,” in which case specific portions of the funds awarded may be deductible. Fellowship recipients are advised to consult a tax adviser regarding the declaration of fellowship funds and to review carefully Chapter I of the IRS Publication 970 - Tax Benefits for Education. While the MacMillan Center cannot offer tax advice, the IRS Tax Office at 150 Court Street, New Haven, offers free tax advice.

If you are a non-U.S. citizen (except for resident alien for tax purposes under F or J visa status) and your research/study is conducted outside the U.S., there is no tax-withholding or reporting requirement. Since the tax laws are complex and may apply differently in individual circumstances, MacMillan staff cannot advise you on tax-related issues. International students should address questions to Yale’s international tax coordinator at internationaltax@yale.edu.

Visas

You may be required to obtain one or more visas before traveling abroad. It is important to allow sufficient time for processing your visa application, especially if you are applying by mail.

• If a visa is required, please obtain it from the appropriate embassy or nearest foreign consular representative before proceeding abroad.
  • Non-U.S. citizens should register with the embassy or consulate of their own country.
• If you are a U.S. citizen, to see if the country you are traveling to has such visa requirements, please visit the U.S. Department of State.
  • We also strongly urge all U.S. citizens to register with the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country or countries where you are traveling as part of your grant or fellowship. 
  • Learn more and register at the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program .